Challenges related to Simultaneous Elections:

♤ It is almost impossible to achieve in practice as Assemblies might get dissolved at an untimely manner due to political realities. Earlier dissolution, which breaches the principle of simultaneous elections, is brought about by several methods like

o The PM or CM advises the president or the governor, as the case may be, to prematurely dissolve the Lok Sabha or state assembly and force snap elections to gain electoral advantage.

o By passing the no-confidence motion against a government or defeating the government’s confidence motion.

o Central government has misused its powers under Article 356 by imposing the president’s rule in states ruled by opposition parties and dissolving assemblies resulting in premature elections.

♤ According to Article 85 and Article 174, elections to Lok Sabha and Legislative assemblies have to be held within six months (respectively) of dissolving either of them. This is not feasible if elections are held only at fixed durations. Also, if elections are not held within six months, it would be a travesty of democracy.

♤ Founding fathers of the Constitution envisaged a federal polity of a sui-generis nature. So, multi-party system with elections is the most fundamental manifestation of this will of the popular sovereign.

♤ Frequent elections bring the politicians back to the voters and enhance the answerability and accountability of politicians to the public.

♤ Will keep the politicians in touch with ‘pulse of the public’ and the result of elections at

various levels can ensure the government the necessary ‘course correction’.

♤ May mix up issues of local and national issues in the minds of the voters, This may give a boost to regional and local issues, while national issues can take a set-back.

♤ The issue of logistics and requirement of security personnel, election and administrative officials: there is a dearth of enough officials to conduct simultaneous elections throughout the country in one go.